Integrating capacity building, ethical finance and market access for smallholder empowerment: evidence from Tebar Hewan Kurban (THK) programme in Indonesia

Purpose This study examines the trilogy of community empowerment – an integrated model combining capacity building, ethical profit-sharing finance and guaranteed market access – as implemented through Indonesia’s long-running Tebar Hewan Kurban (THK) programme to enhance economic outcomes among smallholder livestock farmers. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative single-case study examines 28 years of programme experience through semi-structured interviews with 100 partner farmers, 5 farmer group leaders and 3 programme managers, complemented by document analysis and field observations. Resource dependency theory provides the primary analytical framework. Findings Case-study evidence suggests that farmers participating in the integrated THK programme experienced substantial economic improvements. Farmers reported a 269% nominal income increase, livestock mortality reduction from approximately 10 to 2%, and 94% reduced reliance on moneylenders (self-reported). Programme-reported purchasing prices consistently exceeded middleman rates by 14–28%. Five formal propositions extend resource dependency theory into pro-poor agribusiness contexts. Research limitations/implications Single-case design, purposive sampling and absence of a comparison group limit causal inference. Findings should be interpreted as suggestive, theory-building evidence rather than causal impact estimates. Future research should employ quasi-experimental designs and multi-site comparisons. Social implications This research illustrates how faith-based economic frameworks can mobilise religious charitable giving for productive poverty alleviation, promoting socio-economic resilience through equitable value distribution. Originality/value The study extends resource dependency theory into pro-poor value chain governance through five formal propositions, introduces ethical intermediation as a distinct analytical lens and provides a boundary-conditioned replication framework with 28-year programme evidence.